Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 04/12/2004

Dear Sgt. Shaft, I just wanted to give you a positive update on how things are going with ScripTalk Talking Prescriptions inside the VA. To date, we have eight medical centers and five outpatient clinics supplying audible electronic labels to both service and non-service connected blinded vets. Many more centers are preparing to get ScripTalk going. In fact, this month three additional VA hospitals will begin, including: Baltimore, MD; Martinsburg, WV; and Lexington, KY. With ScripTalk, more and more blinded vets are experiencing a newfound safety, privacy, & independence with their VA issued prescriptions!

David Raistrick
En-Vision America

Dear Dave Kudos to the Undersecretary of Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Robert Rosewell for recently issuing a directive which instructs VA Medical Facilities to implement the use of audio labels. , Scrip Talk allows vets that have difficulty reading or understanding their VA-issued prescription labels the ability to get this information spoken to them using a hand-held Scrip Talk reader.

I know firsthand the value of you wonderful product. I urge the United States Congress, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, pharmaceutical companies, and retail outlets such as Wal-Mart to totally support Scrip Talk and the concept that all prescriptions carry smart labels and the means for all visually impaired persons to scan their medications in a safe manner, thereby hearing in synthesized speech what appears on the label.

Shaft Kudos

I urge all my readers to get on board the military and veterans information super highway (www.military.com) which offers its over 3 million members comprehensive guides to benefits, career and job resources, special discounts and a robust online community center, all of which are provided free of charge. Military.com connects service members, veterans and their families to all the benefits earned in service to America. Military.com helps navigate the bureaucratic red tape in accessing benefits that are all too often lost or underutilized.

Some areas of special interest to veterans include the Education Center, which features a Scholarship Finder that assists veterans in identifying over $300 million in available scholarships, many of which are available for family members. A companion School Finder helps veterans locate military-friendly schools that often accept credit for military service and training, or for examinations such as DANTES/CLEP. The Education Center also provides a wealth of information on how to access benefits under the GI Bill and various state programs for veterans.

Military.com also provides information on other available benefits, including VA home loans, Space A travel, TRICARE and a host of other topics. The site makes many common benefit forms available for download, as well as information on how to obtain official records, such as the DD-214.

The Military.com website presents timely news, as well as in-depth features and opinion pieces written by a wide spectrum of noted experts offering diverse perspectives on topics of interest to the military community. Military.com keeps members informed by offering daily newsletters that cover every major development affecting service members and veterans. In addition, there are weekly newsletters specially prepared with news of interest for veterans of each branch of the military.

Military.com has an extensive job board listing thousands of positions from veteran-friendly employers. In addition, Military.com hosts a Mentor Network, which is a powerful alumni group of over 50,000 former service members who have registered their willingness to assist transitioning individuals with finding work.

The site provides a comprehensive Skills Translator, which converts military training and experience into comparable civilian occupations. Military.com offers helpful articles on job hunting, and a Resume Writing Guide specifically designed to assist military personnel to express their military experience in a manner that will be well received by potential civilian employers.

Military.com is particularly proud of its Discounts Center, which includes savings for service members and veterans, offered by over 400 providers of goods, services and entertainment.

The Community Center helps members get connected and stay connected for life through lively discussion boards, available for each branch of service, plus over 40,000 unit and reunion pages. The Buddy Finder, one of Military.com’s most popular features, assists service members and veterans in locating each other via profiles and a message center.

All of these services and much more are available at no cost to members. Membership is free, and available not only to service members, veterans and family members, but also those considering military service and others with an interest in the armed forces.

Military.com is committed to the mission of connecting the military community to all the benefits earned in service to America, including government programs like the GI Bill and VA home loans, special discounts, and lifelong connections to friends and mentors from the service.

Hats off to the Corporation for National And Community Service

For encouraging nonprofit organizations and public agencies to apply for $4 million in grants for projects to engage volunteers in homeland security efforts in their communities.

The grants are for projects that engage volunteers, especially those age 55 and over, in helping communities prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies and disasters. The Corporation expects to make approximately 12 awards, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 each.

The grants will cover one year of program activity, but funding for a second and third year may be provided contingent on performance and availability of funds.

The application deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, April 23. All applicants are asked to use eGrants, the Corporation’s web-based application system. To see an overview of ongoing grants and application instructions, visit www.nationalservice.org/whatshot/notices.html.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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